A/N Ok, this contains the archangels, mentions of God and a view of Heaven. Have fun, although it's stereotyped.

Chapter one

'I can't believe it. I just can't bloody believe it!'

Clio tapped her manicured nails on the solid gold gilt at her fingertips. She wasn't pleased, wasn't pleased at all. The expression on her face could've made the most imposing of men turn tail and run, and the rage inside her could have every criminal in Alcatraz whimpering. When Clio Jones got upset, everyone got soaked in the rain of misery. But when Clio Jones got angry, everyone got struck by thunder, lightning and flame.

At the moment, poor Clio was stuck between the two emotions. She was leaning slightly more towards her unvented anger, considering the tears that wanted to spill weak and rather unnecessary. But still, frustrated tears seemed like a rather good option right now.

With a sigh, she dropped her head onto the gilt banister that acted like a handrail. She was travelling unrelentingly upwards, along with several others, on a very high tech escalator. It had no steps, only a golden belt-like path that was like that of a treadmill. But she and the passengers didn't have to strain themselves to reach their destination, for it moved for them, slowly but efficiently.

The passengers. Now there was a sight of puzzlement. Some were weeping; the younger ones, children, and people like herself mostly, into their mid twenties by the looks. The others, older, with wrinkled faces and bony hands were looking forwards to their destination with bliss written across their faces. Some of them, around forty years, simply looked ahead with varying degrees of grimness and grudging acceptance. There was no doubt about what was happening for any of them; every single one of them knew where they were headed.

But what goddamned timing! Why did this have to happen now, at this precise moment, when her life was just about to look up for a change?

What a time to die.

This staircase (if it could be called that) was leading its various occupants up the path to the Pearly Gates. All the way up to those sparkling bits of humongous metal in the sky. Towards the clouds and the stars, where angels play their sweet music, sing their sweet songs, and every one was as happy as Larry.

Hmph, she thought with a snort. Fat chance!

She now began to hear a voice up ahead.

'This way!' it said. 'Come on now, don't be afraid. This is the best place in the world you know.'

Yeah right, she thought. Better place my butt.

Murmurs broke out among the other passengers as they began to see something at the end of the stairway. Then they gasped as a figure loomed ahead.

Clio ignored them. The last thing she wanted to do was interrupt her brooding for some poncey angel or whatever that was the welcome wagon.

'You're in Heaven now. There's nothing to fear.'

The escalator stopped.

A man, one that glowed with light, and had large feathery wings was helping the passengers off the staircase, smiling at them encouragingly. But when he went to take Clio's hand, she smacked at his own, stepped as dignified off the stairs as possible, then glared at him.

Never faltering, the angel, who had a shock of blonde hair and huge blue eyes, smiled beamingly at her. 'Welcome to Heaven. If you'll just follow me-'

'No way. Look, I'm not supposed to be here.'

The guy must have dealt with thousands of excuses like that, since he just kept on smiling. 'Just walk this way please.'

'Honestly, you have to get me out of here!'

'Look Miss-'

'What's all the commotion?'

The smile was swept off the angel's face as he turned. Clio caught her breath at the angel who was standing behind them. His wings were massive, and he was the most magnificent specimen of the male species that Clio had ever laid eyes upon. Her jaw dropped to the floor.

Golden hair, eyes like sapphires, sculptured features, taught muscles...

Drool.

'Sir, sir, I'm sorry. This young lady here seems to be rather confused. Why aren't the sedatives taking any effect?'

That shook Clio out of her stupor. 'Sedatives!' she shrieked. 'You tried to drug me!?'

The gorgeous one turned to her. That gaze sliced right down to her bones. She gulped, but suddenly, his smile lit up their entire surroundings.

'You're one of the strongest willed people I've ever met.' He stuck out a hand, grinning. 'I'm Raphael.'

'Clio Barnes.' She took his hand. 'Wow, a real archangel. Raphael, Healer of God.'

He laughed, his voice sexily Italian. 'You know me. Wonderful. So, what seems to be the problem?'

'I can't be here,' she blurted. 'I just can't be dead, not now. The love of my life just proposed to me for crying out loud!'

A sympathetic look crossed the archangel's face. 'Clio, when your time comes, your time comes. I'm sorry.'

'Please. You're an archangel, at the right hand of God and all that. You have to help me!'

'Clio-'

Her eyes began to fill. She couldn't not see Jacob again. It was completely impossible. She loved him too much to leave him all alone.

All the anger that she had suppressed died, and now her tears came flowing out. 'Please...you have to help me. Please...' she whispered. 'I can't live without him.'

The stupid idiot of a welcome mat coughed and pointed out, 'Well, you're not technically living-'

'Shut up Colvin. Go and lead the others to the temple. I'll handle this,' Raphael said sternly, dismissing the lower angel. Colvin huffed and took to the air, those large wings flapping and yet, oddly, creating no breeze. Clio felt a feather light touch at her shoulder and lifted her face to see into the archangel's gentle and kind eyes.

'I'm usually no good at dealing with those who've just arrived from Earth. Earth,' he declared with a hint of sarcasm, 'is not my forte, except for all the technology. More my brother's. I'm Air, and generally speaking, those two elements don't mesh well. But I'm here to help in any way that I can.'

He was so kind, Clio mused as she dried her eyes. The sort of guy who was hotter than hot, but with too much of an understanding personality to be more than your closest friend. A friend was definitely what she needed right now.

'Thanks Raphael.'

'Call me Raph, it's easier. Just don't take any tips from my sister and start calling me Raphy, ok? Now, before we get your dilemma sorted, I'm going to take you to the temple so you can get your wings, robe and halo.'

Her eyebrow rose in suspicion. 'Halo? I haven't seen anyone wearing a halo.'

He chuckled and offered her his arm. 'We're setting up an encouragement campaign for all new entries to wear their halos. We've even tried to make it fashionable, but no-oo, no one wants to wear one. Forgive me for resulting to desperate measures. The Almighty is getting a bit peeved that none of us want to uphold the stereotype.'

'Don't exactly blame him.' Clio looked around her, noting golden clouds and harp music, the exact stereotype of what heaven should be like. Rainbows, sunshine, gleaming pools...Name your idea of paradise and it was all here. It was beautiful, true enough, but Clio knew, without any doubt, that if she spent too long in such a perfect world, it would cripple her, most likely boring her to death.

Pardon the really, really bad pun.

'Raph? What's it like living in Heaven?' she asked curiously. 'I mean, everyone looks really happy,' she realised, surveying all the angels that she saw as they walked along a golden pathway. 'Doesn't it get boring though?'

He grimaced and glanced around him. 'Don't tell anyone I said this, but I find it so incredibly dull. Why d'you think I'm constantly on Earth? I love all the excitement! I have my own credit card and everything!' his eyes glittered. 'And a car, and Italian suits. Better than being in the Jacuzzi all day.'

Clio was sceptical. 'Hmm, if you say so.'

'Believe me Clio, if you are forced to stay here, you will die of boredom within a few weeks. You're the same as me,' he sighed. 'When there's no technology, civilisation or luxurious pampering, you get sick of it.'

That was true enough, she mused. 'To be honest, I was dying for a manicure.'

He beamed at her. 'If you're not granted permission to go back, I'll have to see to it that you come with me whenever I go down on an 'errand'.'

'That would be great.'

'We're here,' he suddenly announced, pointing to the horizon and making Clio lift her gaze. She saw a shining white temple, shrouded in clouds and bathed in sunlight. It looked like a famous painting she had once seen; maybe the artist had been an angel visiting earth. Golden glints sparked from the sun, ricocheting into her eyes, dazzling her.

'Wow.'

'The temple of light. You'll get everything you need to be an angel here. There are also places for guardian-angel training, if you're interested.'

'Cool.'

'That's usually if you have a family member you want to take care of.' Raph pushed her inside the temple, then she heard him laugh. 'For once, my brothers and sister are all together. They'll help with this. Hey!' he called, and four heads turned at the sound of his voice.

'Raphy!' the woman called. 'You're here!'

Raphael cringed at the name as they made their way over. 'Yeah, Gabby. I'm here. This is Clio, by the way. Clio, my sister Gabriel, and my two brothers Uriel and Michael.'

Clio surveyed them all. Gabriel had a sleek mane of black hair that glowed almost blue, and elfin face and deep, fathomless midnight eyes. Her wings were not massive, like Raphael's, due to her thinner shoulder span. Uriel had a calm and mildly amused look about him, chestnut locks that curled becomingly around his face and sparkling green eyes. His wings too, were not overly big, while Michael's were huge. Jesus, he stunned her. Flame coloured hair that fell almost to his shoulders, air of anger about him, and the most wonderful eyes she had ever seen.

They were pure gold.

Her legs went weak as he stared at her. 'Hey,' he greeted. 'You new?'

'Hmmm? Oh, yes, I'm new...' She had great difficulty getting her words out for fear that her tongue would roll out of her mouth unsolicited.

'You need things,' Gabby said brightly, producing a tape measure. She whipped it round Clio in several places, too quick for her to see, then took her length. 'My, you are the petite one aren't you? Genteel, I suppose. Ok, what shade of robe, white, ivory, snow, blanc or chalk?'

'Ummm, ivory?'

'Good choice.' Instantly, a robe appeared on her. 'Now, wings. Height, 5, 4, shoulder span...' she mumbled to herself. 'Perfect. You'll get them tomorrow.'

'It'll be a little uncomfortable,' Uriel told her. 'But it won't last long; hardly more than a couple of hours. I'll teach you to use them, if you like, instead of going to classes.'

'Thanks. That'd be great.' Her mind was whirling from the facts and events, but also the facts that Michael hadn't taken his gaze away from her.

A halo suddenly appeared over her head. 'Cool. It glows.'

Raph suddenly spoke for her. 'Me and Clio have a bit of a dilemma. You see, she was murdered on the night she got engaged.'

Gabby made sympathetic sounds. 'Oh, that's cruel. Did you love him, honey?'

Clio sighed. 'Very much. And I miss him terribly.'

Gabby hugged her. 'We've got to do something about this. Is that your dilemma?'

'Yeah.' Raph yawned and raked his hand through his hair. 'But hell, it's been such a long day.'

'We're not doing anything.'

The quiet yet stern voice came from Michael. 'We can't. When someone dies, they die. There is no way back.' He stared daggers at Clio. 'I'm sorry, but I refuse to help.'

'What!' Raphael choked. 'But Mik, you're our leverage with the big man!'

'I repeat, I refuse to help. It goes against every law of death.'

'No it doesn't,' Uriel remarked mildly. 'We can send her back in an incorporeal form, to become a ghost with unfinished business. If she wants it enough, a ghost can become solid, and all who thought she'd died wouldn't remember it.'

Gabriel stared at him in open astonishment. 'That,' she declared, 'has got be the longest speech you've said in over half a century. But, he's right.'

Raph squeezed her shoulders. 'See?' he beamed. 'We don't even have to involve Mr. Omni-all.'

'Omni-all?' Clio queried.

'Yeah, you know, like omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent? Just a combo.'

'Will you really be able to send me back?' she asked. 'That would be the best thing...'

'The Almighty will never allow this,' Michael cut in, folding his arms stubbornly. 'And I can't blame him.'

Clio decided that although the guy might have been the most drop dead gorgeous thing ever created, he was stone cold. What normal person couldn't sympathise with her situation? What lead hearted creature couldn't imagine themselves in the same position? Him, obviously.

'What if it were you Michael?' she asked quietly, moving from the shelter of Raph's arm to stand in front of the fiery archangel. 'What if you'd just been torn away from someone you loved?'

He stared at her for a moment, as if shocked that she'd stood up for herself. 'Archangels are forbidden love.'

'Well, that explains it all then.' Turning with a flip of her hair, she began walking away. 'The absence of need for love in a weak person usually ends up turning them cold. Let's go Raphael. You promised me a tour.' She linked arms with the stunned blonde and led him away.

He was gaping at her, astounded. 'I can't believe you stood up to Michael that way!'

Clio's knees threatened to collapse. 'Neither can I. Is he always so...'

'Annoying?'

'Uptight was more the word I was looking for,' she admitted.

'Hell yeah. He's like, the one made as the Lord and so on. It's

almost as if Mic has to be like that.' Raph shook his head with a sigh.

'Is it true? About archangels and love?'

'Unfortunately, yes. It wouldn't do for us to love, at least, not romantically. The only exception is if we fall for the first generation of angels. They're mostly messengers, who are hardly ever here, and the sacred virgins of the lord.' He rolled his eyes. 'So we know there's no chance.'

'But you can love in other ways?'

'Yeah, like brotherly love and junk. I wonder if you were right? That he's cold because he's given up the need to love.' He went silent to muse about his brother.

'I'm, not sure.'

'Well, perhaps it'll give him something to think about. Anyway, I'm taking you to our little...house thing. You'll stay there until we get clearance to send you back.' He led her into a huge mansion type house that seemed to be made out of gems. 'Hope you'll be comfy. We won't be here most of the time since there are jobs and junk, but we'll try and come and see you. Gabby will be here when she's not on an errand, Uriel when he's not keeping the demons at bay, Michael, well, most likely never, and me...when the flocks stop coming in at the gates.'

'I thought you were a healer, not an usher?'

'Sure, I heal the big man when he blows his top. But that's just calming.' Raphael winked at her as he led her to an empty room. When he swung the doors wide, she gasped.

Gold gilt was everywhere, framed by pure white drapes and glittering pearls. The room looked so much a luxury that Clio had the mad urge to throw herself on the overstuffed mattress that was covered in snow white covers and roll. The room contained a Jacuzzi and whirlpool, full length steam pool with murky herbal waters, a dazzling waterfall that fell into it and could double as a shower and candles everywhere. The ceiling depicted the night sky, making her instantly drowsy, and the bed seemed miles away.

But she eventually managed to collapse upon the heap of pillows, and, hearing Raph's chuckle echo as he closed the door behind him.

Clio was awoken by a deep dull ache just a little lower than her shoulder blades. Her first thought was my wings!

She turned out to be correct. Her wings were indeed beginning to sprout through, as she observed when she tossed the covers aside, stood up and manoeuvred herself in front of a mirror.

'Bloody hell. Scary...Ow!'

It was actually one of those pains that just got you so frustrated when you realised there was nothing you could to do make it go away. Like period pain, she mused, when there were no tablets in the house.

'Urgh.' Collapsing back on the bed, Clio curled up into a ball, trying to block out the pain. She drifted in and out of a doze, sharp stings always bringing her back to reality as the wings pushed further out. So she didn't notice when someone slipped into her room without a knock.

'I spoke to the Lord.'

At the deep baritone, Clio froze. 'Michael?'

'He's agreed to send you back. He must be in a compassionate mood.'

'Great.' With a groan, she turned to face him.

His eyes lifted to the ceiling as he saw her sheathed in nothing but a shimmy. 'I came to apologise for my abruptness earlier. I feel I was too rash.'

'Damn straight. Apology accepted. I... Urgh, my wings are killing me.'

Michael stepped forward in concern, even as his mouth twitched at the bad pun. 'Angels usually become exempt to pain. Perhaps it's because you've been discharged.' He stopped and looked down at her. 'Can I do anything?'

'Not that I can think of.' Struggling into a sitting position. 'Not unless you can get these things out quicker.'

His eyes danced in the shadows. 'I could, but it would be quite painful.'

'How long would it take?'

'A minute, no more. Without interference, the process could take hours.' He sat on the bed as she mumbled in pain. 'Your choice.'

'Get 'em out,' she grumbled. 'I can't stand this constant aching. Why are you being nice to me anyway?'

He took her shoulders and turned her back to him, trying to ignore the transparency of the thin silk slip that she wore. 'You were the one that insulted me, remember?'

'Only because you were being cold. Why did you talk to your boss for me?'

Michael sighed. 'I guess what you said rang too true for my liking. Now, listen to the water and focus on nothing. I'm just going to soothe the skin around it, loosen it up so that you don't bleed.'

'Can I bleed?'

'If you can feel pain, you can bleed.' Michael proceeded to gently massage the tender skin between her stumps and around the outside. With only a few winces she gradually allowed his touch to comfort instead of aggravate, letting the warmth of his skin seep through to hers.

Then came the pain.

'Michael!' she gasped as her eyes flew wide. 'What are you doing!?'

'Pulling. Don't tense up, it'll make it worse. Deep breaths...' She did as he instructed, but couldn't suppress small, gasping sobs as the pain became almost unbearable.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry...' he murmured over and over, then, with a final tug, her wings were fully loose and free.

Crying, she slumped against Michael who held her reassuringly. 'Oh, that hurt,' she whispered hoarsely.

'I know, and I am sorry. But it's over now and you've got a fantastic pair of wings.'

'That I'm not even going to use.' With a delicate sniff, she refused to open her eyes. 'What's the point?'

'They look lovely. Don't you want to see them?' he asked softly, trying to divert her mind.

'No. It hurts too much to move.'

Michael rubbed her back again, the warmth and friction going a long way to easing the pain of the newly gouged flesh. He felt for her, poor thing, but there was nothing more that he could do. The pain couldn't go in a matter of minutes, and none of his powers included physical healing.

'Maybe a bath would do you good,' he suggested. Clio shook her head.

'Thank you...But I just can't move.' If she'd been in any other state, Clio would have taken note on the fact that Michael, although he did not know it himself, was having very human reactions to her scantily clad presence. His breathing was coming short and fast, and she could sense his palms becoming slightly damp. As it was, in her exhausted position she simply smiled to herself as he let her lie down.

Rising, the archangel coughed into his hand then linked them behind his back, once more staring at the ceiling. 'Anything else you need, don't hesitate to call me or Raphael. We're usually the closest to home, unless Gabriel's not on an errand.' Clio gave a weak chuckle as he spoke out of his usual serene pace. Bless the poor angel, deprived of the knowledge that would explain 'hormones'.

'Again, thanks. Michael-'

'I'll try and get Raph over here as soon as possible. He's the healer.' Cutting her off, he stepped out of the room, brisk once more. 'Feel better.'

Clio sunk into a pain-filled sleep around half and hour after he left her and did not wake until the next morning.